At least 100 fishermen from the coastal hamlets of Nagapattinam, who had ventured in 15 mechanised trawlers, were detained by the Sri Lankan navy while fishing off Kodiakkarai coast on Wednesday morning.
The incident came to light when other fishermen, who witnessed the incident alerted their colleagues on the mainland. Sources said that fishermen hailing from Akkaraipettai, Nambiyar Nagar, Keechankuppam, and Samanthanpettai had ventured from Nagapattinam port on December 9. When a group of fishermen were fishing in the south-east direction off the coast of Kodiyakkarai, Lankan navy personnel approached the spot and detained 110 fishermen.
“As per the notification received by the Coast Guard from Sri Lankan High Commission, it has been stated that 15 trawlers have been detained by the Lankan Navy near Trincomalee on Wednesday morning. We are constantly insisting fishermen to strictly abide by the maritime laws,” Commandant Udhal Singh of Indian Coast Guard Station at Karaikal, told Express.
A report from Colombo quoting naval spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya, said the fishermen had been arrested off Mullaitivu on charges of poaching in the island nation’s waters. The fishermen are expected to be produced before a court in Trincomalee on Thursday, he added.
Meanwhile, fishermen from Akkaraipettai hamlet have called for an indefinite strike from Wednesday urging the Centre to take steps to release the apprehended fishermen.
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